stepping forward.
"Well, you got what you wanted." The words came from Jacqueline's mouth, but the tone and timbre of them didn't belong to her. Languidly, she lay back on the bed. "A quick tumble in the sheets, and I guess you're thinking everything is alright again."
"Death, let her go."
"You've got it all wrong." Death stretched and Toby couldn't help but be distracted by the bob of her bare breasts. "She's the one who needs to let go. We can't both survive in here."
"She absorbed you. You're the one hanging on."
"I'll become corporeal again."
"You can't take over her body. You don't have the strength."
"Who said anything about her body?" Death's face twisted into a smug grin. "There are actually three of us in here, you know."
The baby. Death was talking about being reborn.
"Leave my child alone," Toby ordered. "Or I'll--"
"You'll what?" Death challenged him. "Kill it? Could you do that? Kill your own child?"
"I'll do what I have to do to protect Jacqueline."
"Tough talk! I figure you already know this child is going to have to die anyway. I know how deals with a goddess work. I've been privy to quite a few that involve Morrigan. We're old friends, you know." Death laughed at the wary look he gave her. "You think I don't know how a wizard manages to get a charm like the one you've placed around her neck? That's not easily done and always comes with a price."
"Let me speak to Jacqueline," Toby ordered.
"You'll speak to her soon enough, but first I want to know what you promised Morrigan."
"Nothing." Toby's eyes blazed with anger. "I'd be more concerned about what she has planned for you. You failed her."
Death blinked, obviously uncomfortable with his words. Toby had no idea if Morrigan would do anything at all to Death. There had only been talk of how to save Jacqueline and what the cost might be.
Still, better to have Death worried than feeling too cocky. Experience had taught him that she was a vane, arrogant creature who always believed she would come out on top.
"Morrigan would never do anything to me." Death grasped the silver charm of the necklace, but it sizzled in her hand, blistering the skin before she jerked her hand away. "Damn!"
"I see it works on all creatures who intend Jacqueline harm." Toby smiled. "Good. That means you can't take it off."
Fury danced in Death's eyes, but before she could respond, a struggle seemed to take place in Jacqueline's body. Fascinated, Toby watched as Jacqueline's eyes rolled back, and her body twisted and jerked on the bed.
"Toby?" Jacqueline blinked at him, shivering. He reached over to pick up the discarded towel and gently covered her with it. "I hate it when she does that."
"She still seems pretty strong." He sat down on the bed, rubbing her arms to warm them. "How are you holding up?"
"She is strong, but I can hold her off. I don't exactly enjoy having her damage my body since I'm the one who feels the pain." Jacqueline studied the fresh burn mark in her hand. "It makes me wonder what she is doing to the baby."
"Me, too."
"I heard what Death asked you, Toby. About Morrigan and making deals. This charm is special, but what did you promise for it?"
"Nothing really," he said, hoping she wouldn't pick up on his lie. "I just agreed to be at her beck and call when it came to solving magical problems here on Earth."
"Servitude?"
"Not exactly," he said. "The reason I'm a wizard at all is because of her."
"What do you mean?"
"A long time ago, she gave someone in my family tree her kiss."
Jacqueline tilted her head, puzzled.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"As near as I can figure, it means she had sex with one of my great, great, grandfathers." Toby grinned. "Apparently, it's a really big deal to receive the kiss of a goddess."
"I see. Does that mean you have a little goddess blood in you?"
"Apparently all wizards do. Its how we got our magic in the first place."
"Morrigan sounds like a slut."
"The kiss thing is powerful stuff. Once you have it, it stays in your family's gene pool," Toby explained.
"What will our baby be? A banshee with magical powers like a wizard? Or will it turn out like Gabe--a super wizard?"
"I don't know, Jacqueline."
"Regardless, a baby like ours will be coveted and sought after by people like Gwydion."
"Yes."
"All the more reason to destroy him now."
A bitter edge had crept back into her voice, alarming Toby. The charm